Omar announces sops to woo migrant Kashmiri Pandits

Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday announced a series of sops and recommendations including 100% increase in cash assistance to encourage the return of Kashmiri Pandits who had migrated to Jammu during early years of militancy in 1990s.

Chairing an Apex Advisory Committee meeting of Kashmir migrants, chief minister Omar Abdullah underscored the 'need to create conducive and palatable atmosphere for large scale return of the migrants'.

"Till the time return of migrants takes place smoothly, all facilities need to be provided to them at the migrant township and other places in Jammu", Omar was quoted by an official spokesman.

"The government has already recommended enhancement of cash assistance to the migrant families from present ceiling of Rs. 5000 to Rs. 10000 per family per month to the Union Government," he said.

Omar assured that he would be personally taking up the issue with the Union home minister. The meeting also approved conversion of 588 one-room tenements at Purkhoo into two-room dwelling units to accommodate equal number of 'most deserving and needy migrant families'.

The chief minister directed for taking immediate action for transfer of recently completed Jagti Water Supply Scheme at a cost of Rs. 15.19 crores to the PHE Department for its operation to ensure regular and up to the mark water supply to a population of about 25000 in Jagti Township.

The chief minister gave nod to the construction of 160 shops on the pattern of self-financing for the shopkeepers who have shifted to Jagti from Purkhoo and other locations and as such, lost livelihood means.

Minister for revenue and rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla said that the government has accorded sanction to the relaxation of upper age limit prescribed for entry into government service by 3 years as a onetime exception in favor of Kashmiri migrants.